One of BBC One’s most popular drama series has begun filming its spin-off show in Manchester this week.
The A Word – which follows a young boy and his family to show how they cope with the revelation that he has autism spectrum disorder – drew in millions of viewers and developed a dedicated fanbase after running for three series between 2016 and 2020, and now, production has started on its spin-off.
The new miniseries Ralph & Katie will continue the story of two fan-favourite characters, Ralph and Katie Wilson.
The BBC has revealed that each of the six episodes in the series will feature a different story focusing on the domestic challenges the couple face, which are said to be “issues faced by all newlyweds, but with an added ingredient in the mix being that the couple have Down’s syndrome”.
Leon Harrop and Sarah Gordy both reprise their roles for the series.
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Pooky Quesnel will also reprise her role as Ralph’s mum Louise, Nigel Betts and Sherry Baines as Katie’s parents Steve and Clare, and Matt Greenwood as Tom.
Ralph & Katie has started filming in Manchester & the Lake District 👏
It follows the story of Ralph (Leon Harrop) & Katie (@sarah_gordy) from @theaworduk as they face the usual newlywed challenges, with the added ingredient in the mix being that the couple have Down’s Syndrome. pic.twitter.com/4DG5X1B3Tk
Other new and familiar faces heading to Manchester’s Space Studios and stunning locations in the Lake District include Craig Cash as Brian, Dylan Bradys as Dan, Jamie Marie Leary as Emma, Sam Retford as Gary, and Daniel Cerqueira as Dr Graves, who have all played parts in a number of popular Manchester and Northern-based shows in recent years.
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The groundbreaking spin-off series is created by Peter Bowker, who is also lead writer, as he was on The A Word, while the rest of the writing team is made up entirely of new and emerging disabled writers.
Those writers are Amy Trigg, Annalisa Dinnella, Genevieve Barr, Tom Wentworth, and Lizzie Watson.
Speaking as production began, Peter Bowker said: “The writing team have delivered a series of scripts that are full of joy, humour, and authenticity, and it will be exciting to see the wonderful cast bring them to life under the direction of the force of nature that is Jordan Hogg.”
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Ralph & Katie will continue the story of two fan-favourite characters, Ralph and Katie Wilson / Credit: BBC North
In a bid to encourage a more inclusive future behind and in front of the camera, ITV Studios and BBC Drama are teaming up with TripleC DANC on Ralph & Katie to offer behind the scenes access for those across the North West who are deaf, disabled, autistic and neurodivergent, and interested in how a high-end TV production is made to kick-start their career.
Those on the programme will have access to meetings with various heads of departments as they discuss scripts, location scouting, scheduling, budgeting, set design, and wardrobe, and paid trainees have also been recruited in casting, ADS, Production, Costume, Unit Stills, and EPK.
“We’re embarking on something that’s never been attempted in our industry,” explained award-winning series director Jordan Hogg, who is himself disabled.
“We’re changing the world.”
Ralph & Katie will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer later this year.
Featured Image – BBC
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Manchester City fan gets treble tattoo before Champions League final
Danny Jones
We’ve seen plenty of tattoos gone wrong down the years and even more football fans getting ahead themselves, but it must have taken a special kind of confidence for this Manchester City fan to get the treble tattooed on his body before the Champions League final has even been played.
Man City may have taken one step closer to matching historic rivals Manchester United‘s achievement of winning the treble in 1999, lifting their fifth Premier League title in six years and adding yet another FA Cup to their trophy cabinet, but there’s still one massive game they need to win before they can boast the same.
The Blues take on Inter Milan in the Champions League final — just the second in their history — this weekend and have only ever won one continental trophy by beating Polish side Górnik Zabrze in the European Cup Winners’ Cup back in 1970.
Nevertheless, after yet another stellar domestic season and with two-time UCL winner Pep Guardiola at the helm, most fans, rivals and neutrals alike all think this is the year they’re going to lift their first Champions League — in fact, this man is certain of it.
The diehard City fan, simply known as Stuart on TikTok, shared multiple clips on his account on Tuesday, the first of which showed the treble tattoo in progress and has already had nearly 200,000 views in less than 24 hours.
Naturally, the comments underneath the videos are as you’d expect, with people remarking, “you’ve just made Inter win”, “he’s gonna regret that”, “RIP bro”, “pov: 2021” — the last CL final they qualified for and lost to Chelsea despite being heavy favourites — and so on.
However, responding to haters in the comments, Cityzen Stuart’s confidence looks to be unshakable, stating that it’s now “impossible” for them to lose and there’s “not a chance” Pep goes another yet without winning another Champions League.
Having already flown over to Turkey for the final in Istanbul this weekend, he shared a more recent video showing the tattoo in more detail, complete with full colour and shading.
Football fans are often superstitious (it’s such an unpredictable sport that it’s hard not to be) but it’s fair to say a lot of people are now worried he might have jinxed it, not to mention every single Red hoping that he has. For his sake, he better hope the footballing gods don’t take this kind of stuff into account.
In fact, this isn’t the first time a City fan has gotten a little bit ahead of themselves and put money and ink where their mouth is, as our minds immediately go back to 2009 and the time a supporter got a Champions League winners tattoo for the following 2010/2011 season.
This year’s final kicks off at 8pm on Saturday, 10 June and City fans everywhere will be hoping to Pep and co. lift the Champions League trophy in the club’s history and win a historic treble in the process.
They are already going to go down as one of the best squads ever assembled but, for many, this could see them held up there as the greatest of all time. The question is, can they take that final step?
Featured Image — @stuart1308 (via TikTok)/Comedy Central/UEFA
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Nando’s launches new Fully Loaded Chips as part of limited-edition summer menu
Emily Sergeant
Nando’s has launched a new limited-edition summer menu, and there’s one long-awaited side dish that seems to be the star of the show.
After taking to social media over the last week to tease that a handful of new and returning favourites would be forming part of a menu refresh as summer nears closer, Nando’s has finally confirmed what foodie fans have been waiting for.
Fully Loaded Chips are actually a thing, and you can now order them at restaurants across the UK.
Fans of the Portuguese-inspired restaurant chain on TikTok are known for sharing their own ‘Nando’s hack’ recreations of classic Nando’s dishes at home, as well as giving others some handy and budget-friendly tips and tricks for how to give their usual meals a bit of Nando’s flare.
🍟🧂🌶️🐔🧀🧅
Fully. Loaded. Chips. They're here. Don't lick the screen.
Videos showing fans’ fully-loaded versions of the restaurant’s popular PERI-Salted Chips have often gone viral, and
But now, it’s no longer just a viral make-at-home concept, as the restaurant has revealed that its brand-new sharer is available to order as the ideal side dish to accompany any Nando’s meal out with your mates.
Nando’s launches new Fully Loaded Chips as part of limited-edition summer menu / Credit: Nando’s
Nando’s has even admitted it’s “inspired by fans and Nandocas making their own on TikTok”.
The new Fully Loaded Chips is a big sharing portion of the chain’s legendary PERi-Salted Chips topped with pulled chicken, melted cheddar cheese, spring onions, PERi-Tamer sauce, and a creamy dressing.
Currently only available to order as an ‘Eat In’ dish at Nando’s restaurants in England, Scotland, and Wales, the new dish is described as being “the ultimate sharer” that combines “all your Nando’s favourites into one”.
Although the Fully Loaded Chips are apparently just a limited-edition dish, Nando’s admits it has a feeling they’re going to be popular, so they’ll be here “for a good time and a long time”.
Aside from the Fully Loaded Chips, other additions to the summer menu include the highly-anticipated return of 2021’s fan-favourite summer spice, Garlic BBQ, and a brand-new Pepper & Feta Dip.
Emily Sergeant -
23rd February 2022 
