In what is a real turn up for the books, no Greater Manchester towns have been named in this year’s worst places to live in England list.
And it’s the first time in quite a while that the region gets to boast this.
If you’re unfamiliar with the controversial rankings, every year, more than 100,000 people head on over to iLiveHere UK to dish the dirt on what it’s like to be a resident in their towns and communities, which the online platform then uses to create an annual list of the top 50 worst places to live in England – and it’s fair to say it’s usually pretty grim reading for the North West.
Greater Manchester is sadly known for fairing quite badly on the rankings every year, with three of the region’s towns – Bolton, Rochdale, and Oldham – finding themselves in the top 20 last year.
Wigan has also found itself on the rankings a couple of times in recent years too.
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But the region is clearly in its glow-up era if the 2023 list is anything to go by, as not only is this year’s top 10 absent of Greater Manchester towns, but none appear in the top 20 either, and you’ll have to go as far up the list as 34th place to find our first mention.
Top 10 Worst Places to Live in England 2023
Luton
Peterborough
Portsmouth
Slough
Aylesbury
Aldershot
Andover
Swindon
Bournemouth
Bradford
No Greater Manchester towns named in top 20 ‘worst places to live’ in England 2023 / Credit: John S Turner (via Geograph)
Bolton is the first Greater Manchester town to grab a place on the 2023 rankings, coming in at what can only be described as a respectable 34th place, given the fact it was number six on last year’s list.
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The region’s next inclusion on this year’s list is Manchester at 43.
Wigan is the only other Greater Manchester town in the top 50, ranking one place above Manchester at number 44.
Looking elsewhere across the 2023 rankings, a new town has been crowned the worst as Luton takes top spot on the list, followed by Peterborough, Portsmouth, Slough, and Ayelsbury rounding out the rest of the top five, and Aldershot, Swindon, and Bournemouth being just a few of the other places securing a place in the top 10.
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Bradford is the only northern representative in the top 10, and Liverpool is the first North West town on the rankings at 16, with Blackpool the next at 23.
You can read the 2023 list of Top 50 Worst Places to Live in England here.
Featured Image – TEP
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Eurovision 2023 grand final to be screened live in cinemas across the UK
Emily Sergeant
The grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest is to be screened live in cinemas across the UK for the first time ever.
With fans from across the globe set to descend on Liverpool in a couple of months time as the UK hosts the 2023 edition of the world’s biggest song competition on behalf of last year’s winners Ukraine, those who weren’t lucky enough to secure tickets will instead by able to head to their nearest cinema to experience the action on the big screen.
Distributor CinemaLive has announced it will be broadcasting the Eurovision grand final show live in cinemas nationwide for the first time ever.
It means that Eurovision fans up and down the country who missed out on grabbing tickets to the final – which sold out in under 40 minutes after going on sale earlier this month – will be able to come together to celebrate what is set to be the “biggest, brightest, boldest music party of the year”.
Eurovision 2023 grand final to be screened live in cinemas across the UK / Credit: Krists Luhaers (via Unsplash)
500 cinemas across the UK, including several here in Greater Manchester, will be screening the grand final on Saturday 13 May.
Vue, Odeon, Cineworld, and Everyman are just some of the cinema chains taking part.
Vue Manchester Printworks, Odeon Great Northern, and Everyman Manchester are the Manchester city centre venues lined-up to screen the event – with cinemas in the The Lowry Outlet Mall, Trafford Centre, Didsbury, Heaton Moor, Ashton-under-Lyne, Bolton, and more also set to welcome Eurovision fans through their doors.
Event organisers say the screenings will encourage singalongs and fancy dress.
“We’re delighted to be working with the BBC to bring Eurovision’s grand final live into cinemas across the UK for the first time ever,” said John Travers from CinemaLive.
“We want audiences to enjoy themselves, so get your fancy dress on, and come together to enjoy this historic occasion on the big screen.”
With an illustrious entertainment career spanning over four decades, O’Grady may have been most well-known and loved by British audiences as a comedian, presenter, broadcaster, actor, writer, and the former drag queen Lily Savage – but he was also one of the nation’s most-famous dog lovers and animal rights advocates.
O’Grady was a longtime supporter and Ambassador of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, and helped raise the profile of the shelter to millions around the world through the hugely-popular ITV series Paul O’Grady: For The Love of Dogs.
Battersea says there’s “no doubting” that O’Grady’s influence has helped thousands of rescue animals find new homes over the years.
Over several series of the show, O’Grady would make an effort to spend quality time with these animals and show-off all of their quirks and loveable qualities, which went a long way to proving that rescue animals “really are the best pets”.
Paul O’Grady has died aged 67 / Credit: ITV | Battersea Dogs & Cats Home
Paying an emotional tribute to O’Grady following his passing today, Peter Laurie – Chief Executive of Battersea – said: “To many, Paul O’Grady was the immensely popular TV and radio presenter and comedian who lit up their screens with his razor-sharp humour and perpetual generosity and warmth [but] Battersea will forever remember Paul as a devoted animal lover with the biggest heart, who fell head over heels in love with every dog he met at our centres.
“Paul will always be associated with Battersea and we are truly saddened to have lost such a true friend and huge part of our charity.
“Paul had an extremely hands on approach as a Battersea Ambassador and has been fundamental in helping our charity to communicate important campaign messages.
“He was a champion for the underdog and would do anything to ensure all animals live a healthy and happy life.
“He will be dearly missed.”
We’re deeply saddened to learn that our wonderful, kind friend and beloved Ambassador Paul O’Grady MBE has passed away. He will be so dearly missed by all of us at Battersea. Our love and thoughts go out to all of Paul's family and friends at this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/hjfwBcu7sz
Since the news of O’Grady’s passing was announced, touching tributes have been pouring in in their hundreds from right across the world of entertainment and on social media.
Countless famous names have shared supportive messages and memories.
Emotional tributes to O’Grady have been flooding in all morning, both from those who knew and had worked with him in the past, and from those who admired his work and all that he achieved and had stood for throughout his respected career.
Emily Sergeant -
10th February 2023 
