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.
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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.
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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.
I've watched plenty of police documentaries that have numbed me to the violence and depravity that is meted out in this country, but that episode of #TheDetectives has chilled me to the bone. Pure evil. Respect to all the police officers who face vermin like that every day.
Thought Paris Bostock the Manchester gangster on The Detectives (Organised crime) on BBC2 made the police look very very insignificant when they had him at the station. If that was the US, he’d be 6 feet under by now. After watching, perhaps the US are right on occasions?
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.
Coca-Cola confirms the Christmas Truck is coming to Manchester this weekend
Emily Sergeant
Coca-Cola has finally confirmed the news we’ve all been waiting for… the Christmas Truck will be in Manchester this weekend.
December is here, the temperatures have plummeted outside, and the ‘most wonderful time of the year’ is nearing closer and closer by the day – but it’s not Christmas until you’ve gone and got a Coca-Cola from the giant red van is it, right?
Well luckily, we won’t have to wait too much longer to get to do that once again.
The soft drinks company confirmed that ‘Holidays Are Coming’ a couple of weeks back, with the UK tour of the iconic Coca-Cola Christmas Truck now well underway, and having visited other major northern cities such as Leeds and Liverpool over the last few days.
And now, Coca-Cola has revealed that the legendary van is coming to Greater Manchester this weekend, and will be stopping off at the Trafford Centre for one day only.
The much-loved festive symbol will be arriving outside the shopping centre tomorrow (Saturday 2 December) from midday right through until 8pm to provide “the ultimate Christmas celebration”, with a whole host of activities planned for families of all ages.
The 2023 Coca-Cola Christmas Truck journey will be packed with “interactive experiences for visitors to immerse themselves in”.
Coca-Cola confirms the Christmas Truck is coming to Manchester this weekend / Credit: Supplied
Anyone who heads to the Trafford Centre from midday tomorrow will first be welcomed by a walk-in, snow-filled bauble that invites them to “step into a winter wonderland for the perfect holiday snapshot”, all before making a stop at the ‘Ho-Ho-Hoop Hut’ to take part in a fun festive game for the chance to win a selection of prizes – including meal-inspired rewards, and recycled Christmas tree decorations.
Families can then finish off the tour by posing for a memorable photo opportunity in front of the iconic Coca-Cola truck.
Visitors are welcome to listen to the Coca-Cola Christmas choir as they perform a set of carols too.
Fancy it then? If you’re ready to kick-start Christmas the right way, then make sure you get yourself down to the Trafford Centre from midday tomorrow.
Featured Image – Supplied
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Tesco has slashed the price of one-litre bottles of Baileys by more than 50%
Emily Sergeant
Tesco has slashed the price of one-litre bottles of Baileys by more than 50%, and they’re now available to get your hands on for a limited time only.
With December officially here, and the festive season nearing closer by the day, most UK supermarkets are rolling out deals left, right, and centre to help shoppers save a few pennies during ‘the most wonderful time of the year’ as the cost of living crisis continues – and it seems like Tesco is absolutely no different.
That’s because the retailer has decided to knock a whopping £12 off the regular price of one-litre bottles of one of the best-loved Christmas tipples.
Fans of the classic Irish cream liqueur drink will probably want to run not walk to their nearest Tesco to stock up on Baileys ready for the big day to arrive, as big bottles of the festive favourite have been reduced from £22 right down to just £10, and are now available to fill your basket with.
Tesco has slashed the price of one-litre bottles of Baileys by more than 50% / Credit: The Manc Group
But… there’s a bit of a catch (isn’t there always?)
Not only is the over half-price offer only available for a very limited time, and due to expire at the end of next week, but shoppers will only be able to buy the one-litre bottles at the impressive £10 price if they’re Tesco Clubcard customers.
You were probably expecting that’d be the case, right? The supermarket – which is well-known for the savings it offers via is loyalty card scheme all year round – is giving Clubcard users up until Monday 11 December to nip to their nearest branch or head online to the Tesco website and buy as many bottles of Bailey’s as they fancy.
Fans of the classic Irish cream liqueur drink can stock up now / Credit: Tesco PLC
As part of the supermarket’s commitment to “keep prices low” until the end of the year, stuffing, roast potatoes, cranberry sauce, and even tin foil have all seen their prices slashed as the retailer aims to help those struggling to cover costs.
Emily Sergeant -
24th March 2021 
