Trending
Millions tune in to watch BBC documentary on Manchester kidnapping gang
The new five-part series offers unprecedented access access to the Greater Manchester Police.
The nation was gripped last night as millions tuned in to watch the first episode of a new BBC documentary series centred around “fighting organised crime” in central Manchester.
With the genre of both true and fictional crime continuing to capture TV audiences, this new five-part BBC Two series – titled The Detectives: Fighting Organised Crime – explores real instances of organised crime in Manchester, and the team of detectives trying to put a stop to it, with each episode covering cases as they happen.
Filmed over the course of two years, what sets this show apart from other similar series’ though is its exceptional coverage of live police investigations.
This is unprecedented access to the Greater Manchester Police.
During last night’s episode, viewers saw the police receive a call after a man was taken from his home by an armed gang in front of his wife and children, before being held hostage, tortured and only released after a £34,000 ransom was paid.
The victim – a wealthy man suspected to be linked to drug crime – was thought to be one of a list of people the gang plan to target.
After locating the address where the victim was held and tortured, forensic evidence then lead officers to name suspects, but while the hunt was on to find these dangerous criminals, another horrific kidnap happens.
The Major Incident Team (MIT) then suspected it could be the same gang, and after trawling through lots of CCTV footage, they find harrowing footage of the kidnap in action, leading them to assign specialist undercover and firearms units to find and arrest the gang as the investigation unfolds.
Many viewers gripped by the nature of the events in last night’s episode took to Twitter to share their range of reactions, thoughts and feelings.
The hashtag #TheDetectives went on to become a nationwide trending topic on Twitter.
The Detectives: Fighting Organised Crime continues on BBC Two at 9pm next Tuesday.
There are a total of five episodes in the series, with each episode available to watch on BBC iPlayer directly after airing live.
In the second episode, BBC Two has told viewers that they can expect to watch the team of detectives deal with a separate incident involving drug-related gang crime, which leads to the eventual uncovering of a large-scale conspiracy suspected to have involved up to ten members of the organised crime group.
You can catch up on episode one via BBC iPlayer here.
Featured Image Credit – BBC Two / BBC iPlayer
Trending
Salford City FC have been bought out by a new consortium
Danny Jones
Another era beckons for Salford City as a buyout of the Greater Manchester football club by a new consortium has been announced.
Well, sort of.
Salford City FC were famously the subject of a joint takeover by Singaporean businessman Peter Lim and members of Manchester United’s Class of ’92 over a decade ago, and now 11 years on from that last milestone moment in their history, the local side has a new administration once again.
It is a fresh chapter for the club, but supporters will be glad to hear that there will also be some continuity and key throughline of consistency among some of those at the top.
Led by Man United legends Gary Neville and David Beckham, who have been involved with Salford since 2014, the new nine-member consortium consists of the Dream Sports Group – a leading sports technology company based in India – along with a number of other key figures.
One of those is Lord Mervyn Davies, a former Labour MP and Minister of State for Trade, Investment and Small Business, who still serves as a trade envoy between the UK and Sri Lanka.
Another is Irish-American entrepreneur Declan Kelly, who is Chairman and CEO of The Consello Group, a global advisory and investing firm.
While the previous co-owners and fellow Class of ’92 United graduates are no longer shareholders at Moor Lane, it is said they will still play important roles at the club.
As the official statement reads, “The acquisition includes a commitment by the new shareholders to invest significantly in the Club, the team and its facilities”, meaning there will funds will likely be sweet aside not only for some healthy transfer business but more updates to the Peninsula Stadium.
Commenting on the announcement, Neville said: “I’m passionate about Salford City. This is a unique partnership with a diverse range of minds and expertise, held together by a love of football.
“Football will come first, however, it’s critical that we drive the Club towards sustainability in the next 4-5 years. I can’t wait for the next part of this journey.”
Meanwhile, Beckham went on to add in the excitable Instagram post seen above: “Salford played such an important role in my life growing up… It’s where I trained with United alongside my best mates every day, it’s where I bought my first house and where me and Victoria lived.
“I’m so proud to be part of a new ownership group alongside my mate [Neville] as we begin the next chapter of Salford’s journey. Football is at the heart of this community and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the Ammies.
Are you happy with the news, Salford fans?
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Featured Images — Salford City FC (via Wikimedia Commons)
Trending
Ole Gunnar Solskjær says just three players have spoken to him since leaving Manchester United
Danny Jones
Club legend and ex-Manchester United player turned manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, has revealed that just three of his former players have been in touch since leaving Old Trafford.
Solskjær was sacked from the role as Man United head coach back in November 2021 after having been given the job permanently following an impressive winning run as interim manager.
The practically perfect start back at the helm of the club – where he starred as the ‘super sub’ during his playing days – was followed by a big slump, and the final decision was ultimately made in the wake of a 4-1 loss to Watford.
However, the ‘Baby-Faced Assassin’s’ popularity among the players and the fans alike was never in question, so it’s come as somewhat of a surprise to many fans that Solskjær has said only a specific trio of United players have got in touch with him since his dream job came to an end.
At least two of the names read out might not surprise fans, as not only was then-club captain Harry Maguire one of his first statement signings, but so was Bruno Fernandes, who now has the armband, and both have remained key players and leadership figures pretty much ever since.
Speaking to BBC Sport on the senior duo, Ole said, “For me, Harry has always been a leader and a fighter”, and never had any doubts about him deputising for him on the pitch, before going on to label both the centre-back and Bruno as “top human beings.”
As for the third, although Victor Lindelöf looks set to leave the club this summer, he’s actually been a long-serving squad member, having joined back in 2017 and been a seemingly popular figure around the dressing room, even if injury problems have sometimes hampered his minutes.
He also went on to discuss other matters regarding the club, including confessing that it’s “hard to watch” United amidst their present struggles, both under previous manager Erik ten Hag and now Ruben Amorim – even with a potential Europa League trophy consolation on the cards.
The retired striker also stated that he found the decision to let midfielder Scott McTominay go more than surprising, especially given the incredible performances he’s put on display since moving to Serie A.
Now the boss at Besiktas, the 52-year-old has won 50% of his games so far, with the Turkish side on course for a third-place finish.
For context, he only took the job back in January.
What did you make of Ole’s revelations then, Reds? And, more importantly, how do you look back on his time in charge at the Theatre of Dreams?
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Featured Images — soccer.ru (via Wikimedia Commons)/BBC Sport
Emily Sergeant -
24th March 2021 
