November is here, we’ve waved goodbye to Halloween, and that only means one thing – the festive season is right around the corner.
But regardless of whether or not you feel it’s too early to be talking about the big C word, the queen of Christmas herself, Mariah Carey – who is a mainstay on festive playlists with her 1994 smash-hit ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ – has taken to social media yesterday to share a video of herself smashing some pumpkins carved with the words “it’s not time” to declare that the festivities are, in fact, on their way.
And now, after that teaser video caused fans to go into a suitable frenzy online, Carey has today announced that she’s releasing a new Christmas single this year.
The new single is titled ‘Fall In Love At Christmas’.
This time though, Carey isn’t on the track alone as the new song is a collaboration with Texas singer-songwriter Khalid, and US choir director and gospel singer Kirk Franklin.
Not only did Carey announce that the single would be released at the end of this week, but she also shared a 30-second preview of the track too, which the NME reports, reveals the song to be a romantic R&B-tinged ballad, with Carey and Khalid singing together in the chorus.
The official artwork for the song includes photos of the three collaborators as children against Christmas wrapping paper.
‘Fall In Love At Christmas’ will be released this Friday 5 November.
It remains to be seen whether the song will go on to be as successful as Carey’s classic ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ – which has broken countless records, and is the singer’s biggest international success, topping the charts in twenty-six countries including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and right here in the UK.
But judging by the thousands of people sharing their excitement for the new track on social media, fans can’t wait for “Mariah season” to be here.
Featured Image – VEVO / YouTube
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Noel Gallagher reveals his and Liam’s children are now ‘best friends’ after the Oasis reunion
Emily Sergeant
Noel Gallagher has revealed that his and Liam’s sons had never met each other before the Oasis reunion last year.
But now? Well now they’re ‘best friends’, apparently.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, then I’m sure you’ll know by now that Oasis reunited last year for the first time since they disbanded back in 2009 to bring the world the long-awaited Oasis Live ’25 reunion tour – including five nostalgia-drenched gigs here in Manchester at Heaton Park, which saw more than 300,000 people descend on our city.
It was undeniably one of the biggest cultural events of the 21st century so far, given the fact most fans presumed the Gallagher brothers‘ feud meant they would never meet each other again.
Now though, it’s been revealed that some Gallaghers actually hadn’t met before last year.
According to those lucky fans who have already had the chance to see the Oasis: Don’t Look Back In Anger documentary concert film – which premiered first at the 2026 Venice Film Festival this past weekend, and then had its world premiere in London last night (7 September) – Noel Gallagher shares a story about how his two sons, Donovan and Sonny, had never met Liam’s sons Lennon and Gene prior to the reunion tour.
Noel Gallagher reveals that his and Liam’s sons had never met before the Oasis reunion:
Noel has three children – 26-year-old daughter Anaïs from his first marriage to Meg Matthews, and then two sons, 18-year-old Donovan and 16-year-old Sonny from his second marriage to Sara MacDonald.
Liam, on the other hand, has four children – daughter Molly, 28, two sons Lennon and Gene, aged 26 and 25 respectively, as well as a 13-year-old daughter named Gemma, who he is yet to meet.
Speaking on the relationship between his kids and their cousins, Noel said: “When my kids met his kids they didn’t know each other.
“Donovan and Sonny had never met Gene and Lennon. Lo and behold they’re best friends now.”
Oasis: Don’t Look Back In Anger is set to show the meteoric rise of Oasis through rare footage and untold stories as the band reunites for Oasis Live ’25, chronicling their journey from Manchester streets to global rock stardom.
It releases in cinemas nationwide, including in IMAX, this Friday 11 September.
Greater Manchester’s spooky steam trains are returning this Halloween
Emily Sergeant
Spooky season is right around the corner, and one of Greater Manchester’s most-popular Halloween events is returning.
What’s Halloween without East Lancashire Railway‘s (ELR) eerie ghost trains at this point? Generally selling out each year, the heritage railway’s Halloween Trains always prove to be top of the Halloween bucket list for people looking for some ‘spooktacular fun’ once the scariest time of year rolls around.
And 2026 is expected to be no different… in fact, it’ll be even creepier than normal, because the scream train has had a spooky makeover.
You can expect flickering lights, eerie sounds, creepy surprises, and perhaps a very unwelcome visitor climbing aboard.
Those brave enough at lending the Monster Squad a helping hand at banishing ghosts and ghouls will be whisked away on a haunted steam engine through the atmospheric Greater Manchester countryside.
Before you join them though, you’ll need to prove you have what it takes by making it through the Halloween Walkthrough on the footbridge with a fair few jump scares.
Once you reach the platform, you’ll be greeted by Halloween favourites, Vampire Brian and Veronica the Witch, who’ll prepare you for your terrifying train trip with a song, a dance, and probably a scream or two.
Spooky steam train rides through Greater Manchester are returning this Halloween / Credit: ELR
As you take in the autumn sights and delights of the local countryside out the historic steam train’s windows on your journey, there’ll be lots of spooky entertainment and music along the way, and as always, screaming and singalongs are to be expected – and encouraged – as this is all part of the experience.
Families are also encouraged to ‘show off your spookiest fancy dress’ on the day too, and if you make it to the end, then a goody bag for every child ‘full of tricks and treats’ awaits.
Emily Sergeant -
2nd November 2021 
