With thousands of reviews left by the Great British public each day, TripAdvisor truly is the gift that keeps on giving.
Whether it’s an opinion on a restaurant, hotel, or popular tourist attraction you’re after, or just a general review of a place you’ve never been to before, people tend to refer to TripAdvisor if they’re looking for a genuine account of the user experience.
Of course though, we also know it’s the place to go if you fancy a laugh from time to time.
Given that the tourism platform is open to everyone to have their say, it also attracts its fair share of comical reviews, with some so ridiculous and down-right unbelievable that they’ll have you questioning if they’re actually serious or not.
And now, the Lake District has proved to be the punching bag once again – this time for one of its most notorious roads.
A recent review of Hardknott Pass in Broughton-in-Furness – which is known is one of the UK’s most challenging roads to drive on, given that it has a gradient of one in three, and several sharp and steep bends with an unpredictable surface – has seen one tourist brand it “hell on earth”.
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Tourist calls notorious Lake District road ‘hell on earth’ in hilarious TripAdvisor review / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
The lengthy – and pretty hilarious – review left in December 2022 reads: “Gorgeous views, but this road is HELL ON EARTH.
“Daddy thought it would be fun to set off on a little ‘drive through the hills’ on this soggy Lake District Day. Decided to head up this road so we could take the children to visit the Roman Ruins. Had a nice little look around and then thought it would be clever to crack on even further up the road, but holy cr*p.
“Hairpin turns so steep and tight I thought we were all going to die.
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“My 10-year-old son to the rear right of me asking for his inhaler due to a full blown panic attack. Eight-year-old daughter directly behind me pulling my hair yelling ‘yaaaaaaaaaaas’ and ‘yeeeehaaaaawwwww’ round every bend like she is riding a horse. 26-week-old foetus in my stomach punching the living daylights out of me from inside me due to severe dislike of possible G-Forces.
“Husband to my right with white knuckles on the steering wheel and a toothy, nervous grin that made him look like Wallace from Wallace and Gromit for a good twenty minutes.”
She ended the brilliantly-detailed review urging other tourists to “do yourself a favour and walk it instead.”
Can’t really argue with that.
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
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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 -
3rd March 2023 
