2022 was a pretty wild ride wasn’t it – three PMs, two insane celebrity court cases, one Platinum Jubilee (and then, sadly, a state funeral), financial turmoil, ANOTHER LadBaby Christmas number one, and Sir Ian McKellen hatching out of a giant golden egg.
That’s just the national news stories too… Back here on home turf things were also getting pretty weird, and it’s those odd local gems that really kept us going throughout the year.
So we’ve looked back, dug deep, and pulled together the maddest Manc news stories from 2022 to give us a laugh as we head into 2023. Enjoy.
Storm Franklin causes chaos
Storm Franklin was an absolute monster, and it hit the north west just days after both Storm Eunice and Storm Dudley had wreaked havoc across the region.
More than 400 homes in South Manchester had to be evacuated due to the flooding risk and the public transport network well and truly gave up on doing its job.
ADVERTISEMENT
But the most Manc reaction to the weather chaos came from Failsworth, and a certain Pete Brotherton, who chose to look on the sunny side of his completely flooded back garden.
In a video shared on his social pages, Pete popped on his swimming trunks, a pair of inflatable armbands and goggles, and hopped into the icy water (essentially a big puddle) to swim laps.
ADVERTISEMENT
Mystery pooper in sofa showroom
The man taking a poo in the middle of the Sofa Club. Credit: TikTok, @sofaclubuk
One local man was so excited about the great deals on offer in a sofa showroom in Manchester, he literally couldn’t contain his excitement – or his bowels.
In a shocking video posted on LinkedIn (of all places) and TikTok in May, a man was caught on CCTV walking into the Arndale, dropping his trousers, and doing a poo on the floor.
We all know that the worker bee is the symbol of Manchester, and we all have a bit of a soft spot for the little creatures here.
But they pushed their luck again this summer, when they once again chose to swarm all over the place – and this time, it was a pedestrian crossing they made their home for several days.
We’re all used to the sight of Boombox Barry, a legendary local figure, whizzing through the streets of Manchester on his push-bike, speaker dangling from the handlebars.
ADVERTISEMENT
But it was a bit of a surprise to all of us when his mode of transport got a sudden upgrade, with Barry zooming around on a much faster and fancier set of wheels.
It’s a Tuesday afternoon. The streets are quiet as everyone sits at their desks cracking on with work. Except, there are the tinny strains of The Four Tops, a glimpse of a man walking around flashing his belly beneath his t-shirt, the sight of a pensioner in a 1920s-style flapper dress boogying.
Because Tuesday afternoons in The Chestergate pub are not like Tuesday afternoons anywhere else on this planet.
This completely chaotic video captured the most quintessentially British drunkenness, went viral, and won the hearts of the nation.
We still can’t get over @Sam Ryder suprising us in Manchester today and busking in St Peter’s Square! What an incredible man with an incredible voice #foryou#samryder#manchester#fyp#busking#eurovision
Manchester has tonnes of supremely talented buskers – something our 60 Seconds With series highlights – but a visitor recently gave our local talent a run for its money.
The star popped in to town to sing his heart out in front of an enraptured crowd. What a lovely dude.
The least accurate billboard of all time
Aww, sweet, well-meaning Magnum… but they really missed the mark with their absolutely enormous billboard in Piccadilly Gardens.
The ice cream brand chose to go with the slogan ‘The only thing that can make lying on Piccadilly Gardens even better‘ – directly above the absolute mud bath that the area was at the time.
ADVERTISEMENT
Mancs definitely saw the funny side, and the irony, and completely trolled Magnum with comments like: “Who better to share a magnum with than Dave the rabid pigeon.”
Jack Grealish having a *lovely* day out
Jack Grealish celebrating at the Manchester City victory parade. Credit: Manchester City
World Cup hero, Man City heartthrob, owner of the most famous calves in the Premier League – Jack Grealish is a lot of things, but he’s also our favourite person to ever take part in a very public victory parade.
At his club’s bus parade through town, Jack was caught well and truly letting his hair down.
The wobbly footballer was videoed saying: “I wanna see everyone at Albert’s Schloss tonight, and I’ll buy everyone a Jagerbomb,” as well as hitting Phil Foden with an inflatable banana, posing for photos cuddling the mascot Moonbeam, and wearing a woman’s handbag. Pure joy.
Mugshot madness
Jonathan Cahill. Credit: West Yorkshire PoliceRobert Rimmer
What on earth have our local police forces been putting in the water lately?
ADVERTISEMENT
Twice this year we’ve seen mugshots of wanted men go viral because people were flooding the comments with remarks about their appearance.
Our favourite comment of the lot was this one: “What’s his crime breaking hearts or houses?”
The arrival of Karen’s Diner and THAT very cross pensioner
News of Karen’s Diner reaching our shores drummed up a mixed reaction last year – half of us thinking that getting deliberately taunted by staff was an insane prospect, the other half thinking it was quite a hilarious concept.
Tell you who didn’t see the funny side though, and that’s the unsuspecting, 73-year-old grandmother who was dragged along by her family with absolutely no explanation of the Karen’s Diner concept.
ADVERTISEMENT
It gave us all some hilarious content, though, as Barbara turned the tables back on the deliberately rude wait staff and gave them a stern telling-off.
Millions of people were stunned when this – apparently legit – business started advertising its very unusual product on Facebook.
A couple of amateur Manchester taxidermists created stationery holders using dead squirrels they found in Heaton Park… the headless mammals apparently make ‘perfect holder’s for pens, cutlery etc.’
Shocking and horrifying some, whilst genuinely intriguing others, the post’s accompanying images show decapitated, hollowed-out squirrels with crossed arms and, in some cases, pink painted nails and rhinestone collars.
Featured image: Facebook
Trending
Manchester City set for first signing of the summer as Rayan Aït-Nouri completes medical
Danny Jones
Manchester City look to have finally signed an out-and-out left-back as Rayan Aït-Nouri is said to have completed his medical ahead of a move to the Etihad Stadium.
The French-born defender is expected to join Man City on a five-year deal worth a reported £31 million, including add-on fees of approximately £5m, becoming the first new signing ahead of the upcoming Premier League season.
City spent significantly in the January window after chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak argued they weren’t aggressive enough last summer, and they look to continue rebuilding the squad following several key departures, not least of all Kevin De Bruyne.
Although the transfer is yet to be officially confirmed by the club, multiple outlets have now covered the Wolverhampton Wanderers wing-back being bound for the blue half of Manchester.
Rayan Ait Nouri has completed his medical with Manchester City and is expected to sign a five-year deal 📝 pic.twitter.com/sqBU43d7D7
Having come through the youth system at Angers FC in Ligue 1, the versatile fullback was loaned to Wolves back in 2021 before being signed permanently later that same year.
The 24-year-old has made more than 150 appearances in ‘Old Gold’ since then, registering 12 goals and 19 assists, and has played for Algeria eight times after declaring allegiance back in 2022, despite having already represented ‘Les Bleus’.
More precisely, it’s the dynamism of Aït-Nouri that has seen him shortlisted by several clubs of late, with Pep Guardiola regularly deploying his fullbacks as utility players in his ever-fluid system.
Even in an often faltering Wolves side, he contributed to more goal involvements than any other defender in the league during 2024/25; created the fourth-most chances from a player in the backline, the second-most dribbles and won back possession in the final third more than any other defender.
Nevertheless, he still looks set to be one of the most orthodox left-backs City have signed in years – with the club having struggled for strength in depth in that area for some time – using the likes of Joško Gvardiol (the best fit), Nico O’Reilly and Nathan Aké in that position most recently.
Quick, confident on the ball and strong in the tackle, he’s tailor-made for bombing down the flanks and creating plenty of those trademark cut-back finishes for Pep’s attackers. While they already have plenty of options going forward, Khaldoon has insisted there will be “several” more signings all over the pitch.
Aït-Nouri is expected to pen his City contract on Sunday, 8 June, meaning he will most likely be the first of a quickfire trio of new signings in the first half of June, with two other deals also believed to be close to being done.
In addition to long-admired target Tijjani Reijnders reportedly also undergoing his medical this weekend, another Rayan and fellow French-Algerian in Lyon’s Cherki, who is thought to be making a £30m move to play under the Catalan coach.
On the other hand, we wouldn’t be too surprised to see all three players unveiled in a single day, similar to what we saw just a few months ago.
Featured Images — Æthelred (via Wikimedia Commons)/Premier League (screenshot via YouTube)
Trending
Alejandro Garnacho ‘will leave’ Manchester United with queue of clubs ‘keen’, according to reports
Danny Jones
It looks like a decision on Alejandro Garnacho has now been made, as the latest transfer news is that he ‘will be leaving’ Manchester United this summer, with a number of clubs already in waiting.
The Garnacho situation is one that the Man United administration, manager Ruben Amorim and fans alike would have wanted to avoid if possible, but with the talented winger and his entourage making plenty of noise off the pitch, it seems that it was only ever going to end one way.
Now, just a few weeks on from that season-defining game, when there was already plenty of doubt around his future at Old Trafford, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has stated that a decision has been reached between both Garnacho and the club, with the 20-year-old expected to leave this summer.
🚨🇦🇷 Alejandro Garnacho will leave Man United, decision confirmed on player and club side — set to part ways.
Understand staying in Premier League serious option with 3 clubs already very keen… after Bayer Leverkusen and Italian clubs calling.
Yes, Romano claims that the board have now bitten the bullet and a reconciliation between Garnacho and the United boss looks unlikely, with a decision now “confirmed.”
Moreover, the Italian journalist goes on to add that there are at least three clubs who are “already very keen”, with even more expected to be monitoring the situation over the coming weeks and months.
The situation has shades of Erik ten Hag’s ousting of Jadon Sancho or even how Amorim approached the fallout with first-team star Marcus Rashford, whose future is still up in the air following his loan deal at Aston Villa expiring.
Romano elaborated that while it looks like a “very difficult deal to do” financially for a number of those interested – Bayer Leverkusen, and Serie A sides like Napoli being some of those floated thus far, as well as plenty of Premier League teams.
In terms of domestically, Chelsea have been considered suitors of the number 17 for several months now, and have already begun their spending in this window by snapping up one of the Red Devils‘ supposed targets in Liam Delap.
You can see his full breakdown of the situation, among other transfer window updates, in more detail down below:
The youngster and academy product had been considered one of the club’s brightest prospects and bargains in recent years when he was picked up at just 16 from Atlético Madrid – not to mention quickly becoming a fan favourite – but it seems, ability aside, his character simply doesn’t fit the dressing room.
Since both Sancho and Chelsea have been mentioned, it’s also worth touching on those somewhat controversial circumstances.
While you could argue Amorim isn’t really losing a winger since the 25-year-old is now set to return to Carrington for the time being (a player he hasn’t been able to get his hands on yet), with Chelsea opting to avoid their obligation to sign him permanently, it still looks likely he’ll leave Man United.
Nevertheless, were the Portuguese coach somehow able to get a tune out of the previously exiled loanee, it could be intriguing to see how this one develops.
Daisy Jackson -
4th January 2023 
