But after first being teased all the way back in 2016, and then following a nationwide casting call for people looking to expose online love interests who may not be telling the full truth that was announced October 2020, the first ever UK spin-off of the smash hit reality MTV show Catfish is hitting our TV screens this week..
Several teaser clips for the new series have been shared on social media over the past few weeks to hype up the fans, but now the official air date has finally been announced.
The first episode of Catfish UK will air on Wednesday 21st April at 9pm on MTV UK.
The original US-made Catfish: The TV Show – which first aired back in 2012, after a documentary of the same name – sees documentary maker Nev Shulman meet individuals from across the country who have fallen in love online, only to grow suspicious when the target of their affections refuse to meet in real life.
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The show has undeniably proved popular with viewers worldwide over its eight seasons on air, hence why a spin-off is on the way.
But what can we actually expect from the UK version when the new series starts?
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Here’s everything we know so far.
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What is Catfish UK: The TV Show?
Catfish UK: The TV Show is the UK spin-off of the US original documentary and MTV series of the same name, and it’s set to air on MTV UK next month, with a run of four, hour-long episodes being broadcast at first, before continuing with a further six episodes later this year.
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Unfamiliar with what a ‘catfish’ is?
A popular term on the internet, a ‘catfish’ is someone who creates fake personal profiles on social sites using someone else’s pictures and false biographical information to pretend to be someone else.
These ‘catfish’ usually intend to trick an unsuspecting person or more into falling in love with them.
The term is believed to have derived from the title of the previously-mentioned 2010 documentary, in which filmmaker Schulman discovers that the woman with whom he’d been carrying on an online relationship had not been honest in describing herself.
Who are the hosts?
MTV / Catfish UK: The TV Show
Although the US hosts, Nev Shulman and Kamie Crawford, have been a big part of the promotion and casting process of the show, they will not be making the trip overseas to front the UK spin-off and have instead handed the reins over to former Apple Music Beats 1 presenter, Julie Adenuga, and journalist / author and documentary filmmaker, Oobah Bulter.
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“As someone who has spent the most part of my career in the bubble of music and entertainment, Catfish UK is my first chance to connect with people in a completely different way, which is really exciting for me.” Julie Adenuga explained.
“The show is about vulnerability, empathy… and drama. Rule #1 – expect the un-expected”.
Oobah Bulter added: It’s wild to me that the person who learned about the internet and deception by watching Catfish with his five brothers and sisters gets to be a part of its latest chapter.
“We live in a moment where everybody’s lives have moved online.
“I can’t wait to travel around the country, meet people, and use the tools I’ve developed making documentaries, to help them and better understand what it is about society that drives people to feel so inadequate that they cannot be themselves.”
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Will there be any Mancs on the new series?
Although the various teaser trailer clips for the series appears to show the new hosts reacting to various relationship revelations – including “an affair” and a “criminal” dater – it is yet to be announced who will be featured on the new series and what their circumstances will be, but given the fact that a UK-wide casting call was opened last October, we can expect to hear stories from people all across the country.
The casting call asked anyone over 18 years of age who suspects they’re “in love with, speaking to, or are just friends with someone who may be a Catfish” to get in touch.
Mancunians were urged by MTV to get involved, so we’ll just have to wait and see.
The new series begins on Wednesday 21st April at 9pm on MTV UK, and you can keep up to date with Catfish UK: The TV Show on Facebook and Twitter.
Featured Image – MTV / Catfish UK: The TV Show
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Discount flights from Manchester up for grabs as easyJet’s ‘Big Orange Sale’ returns for 2026
Danny Jones
Get ready to book in some annual leave, because easyJet’s ‘Big Orange Sale’ is BACK for 2026, with cheap flights from Manchester and more up for grabs.
Not only can you get affordable trips from Manchester Airport, specifically, but there are discounts across the board by the operator.
The Big Orange Sale is becoming an increasingly popular annual occurrence for Brits, with countless holidaymakers, rather fittingly, making the most of the offer.
In fact, you might have already seen the advert yourselves:
Packing our bags already.
Just as the ad explains, those travelling via easyJet can get up to 20% discount on flights to a load of different destinations across the globe.
Yes, the company are knocking up to a fifth off the price on flights over the course of nearly 10 months’ worth of travel from the UK, provided the trip is booked within the right window.
Seeing savings on more than 730,000 seats, the time frame itself is also one of the longest cut-price periods you’ll come across this year, not to mention well into 2027.
Better still, it doesn’t just stop at flying itself…
Get this, the flight operators and travel agents are offering up to £400 off on package holidays, meaning those old faithful all-inclusives are about to become even more bang for your buck.
Featuring not only countless mainland European favourites on the list, but also the likes of the Canary Islands, Morocco, and numerous popular skiing hotspots, just to name a few.
In ideal news for all you lot, approximately 90,000 of these reduced seats are on flights from Manchester Airport, with the operators also having just added 30 new locations to the areas they service.
Allowing you to book trips departing between 1 May 2026 and 14 March 2027, it’s a huge travel window for you to get extra value-for-money deals on your next getaway.
You can find the full list of flights and package holidays on easyJet’s Big Orange Sale right HERE.
Speaking of airports, you’ll also be glad to hear that public transport infrastructure is also getting a big upgrade to make your next holiday even easier:
Featured Images — The Manc Group/Anna Zvereva (via Flickr)
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A masterclass in The Art of Loving: Olivia Dean brings two unforgettable nights to Co-op Live
Emily Johnson
Olivia Dean took over Co-op Live for not one, but two nights this weekend – and what she delivered felt like a full-circle celebration of The Art of Loving, her incredible sophomore album.
From the moment Olivia’s silhouette appeared behind the curtain on night two, opening with the album’s title track, it was clear this evening was going to be special.
With a sea of polka dots on arrival, it’s evident that the 27-year-old already has great influence when it comes to style with her fans, and you could spot anyone who was attending Olivia Dean around Manchester city centre immediately.
Despite performing to a crowd of over 20,000 people, the performance felt incredibly intimate, with interactions with the crowd through the evening, even pointing out a fan’s banner saying they had been a fan of Olivia since 2019, which she was humbly taken aback by.
Her voice carried effortlessly around the arena, somehow still managing to feel soft and personal, like she was singing directly to you.
No Dean show would be complete without her incredible outfits either, and last night we were truly spoilt, with two outfit changes throughout the evening, which split the night into three chapters.
Initially appearing in a black sequin number, before reappearing in the middle of the crowd in an all-white outfit, evocative of an angel – a moment that felt intimate even in a room that size.
Later, with disco balls lowered and the energy lifted, she returned in another glitzy look for the more upbeat tracks, including a crowd-pleasing cover of ‘Move On Up’. With her band behind her, the sound filled the arena beautifully.
Everyone was on their feet having a good time, but no one was having as much fun as the woman herself, Olivia Dean.
And that’s the thing with Miss Dean, no one at her gigs is having half as much fun as she is. She’s always smiling, always glowing.
Put simply, she’s a proper ray of sunshine on stage. Towards the end of the show, Olivia looked up at the crowd and stated, “It’s magic in here tonight, Manchester”, and we all believed her.
Looking around at the crowd, arms around each other, best friends, couples – it was hard not to feel the magic too.
Highlights included ‘UFO’ with a sea of lights, which in the moment gave the whole room goosebumps, and of course, the confetti cannon, which was the grand finale to an incredible evening.
Emily Sergeant -
19th April 2021 
