TV & Showbiz

BBC to air documentary revealing ‘fascinating secrets’ of Manchester jaffa cake factory

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 3rd April 2023

A new documentary series looking at how some of the nation’s favourite foods and snacks are made starts this week.

And the first episode is stepping inside the jaffa cake factory in Manchester.

Airing on BBC Two, Inside The Factory is back for a new six-part series presented by Gregg Wallace, Cherry Healey, and Ruth Goodman, and is setting out to reveal even more “fascinating secrets” behind the production of some of our favourite foods.

Gregg will be visiting sites right across the UK – with everything from a crumpet factory in Burnley, to a factory making vegan sausages in Thirsk, also set to be uncovered too.

Already being billed as “an Inside the Factory classic”, the jaffa cakes episode airing this week, however, will see Gregg get to grips with the machines and processes that churn out six million of these beloved chocolate orange treats every single day.

Viewers will get to watch the intricate process of the iconic layer of orange jam being placed onto 31,000 perfectly-baked sponges, before they travel down the production line at over 2,500 cakes a minute towards a chocolate enrober so that all-important milk chocolate topping can be applied.

BBC to air documentary revealing ‘fascinating secrets’ of Manchester jaffa cake factory / Credit: Flickr

Before they can be coated though, the jaffa cakes first need to complete a precisely-calculated drop to a conveyor below, which makes the sponges rotate just enough to land face down into a river of liquid chocolate, so a turnover roller can then flip them one more time to “create the distinctive crosshatch finish”.

Apparently, the factory uses a whopping 13 tons of chocolate every single day – which is said to be enough to fill 200 bathtubs.

Aside from Gregg’s visit to the Manchester factory though, elsewhere on the episode, viewers will get to see Cherry harvest oranges near the ancient port of Jaffa in Israel, and attend the World Marmalade Awards in Cumbria.

Ruth will also investigate why a multi-million-pound court case rocked the cake and biscuit world.

Read more:

Inside The Factory is back on BBC Two tomorrow at 8pm.

Featured Image – BBC

TV & Showbiz

Jason Manford has final word on ‘naughty’ rule that sparked unexpected Village Hotel experience

Danny Jones Danny Jones Jason Manford Village Hotel shared room rule

Local comedian Jason Manford has shared “the last I’ll say on the matter between The People vs The Village Hotel”, after expressing his disappointment over a rule that saw him have a somewhat unexpected experience at one of their locations.

The Salford-born and Stockport-based stand-up was forced to share his room with another individual at The Village in Bournemouth after being told the hotel was fully booked.

Manford‘s room had essentially been resold, which led him to stay in a double with his friend and colleague; however, as explained in multiple videos, not everyone was fortunate enough to secure a last-minute solution.

Still, on the upside, at least they didn’t have to share a bed…

As detailed in the first of three posts seen above, Manford and co. arrived at the hotel late (as is typically the case with any touring comedian, especially a headliner) following his gig at the Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre on Sunday, 29 June.

The 44-year-old is currently on his ‘A Manford All Seasons’ tour, which saw a flurry of new dates added back in November, and got underway back in February.

Although he assured that the staff did their job and were “lovely” through the whole ordeal, he reiterated that he found the little-known rule “very naughty” and “not on”.

He also mentioned that a doctor who arrived shortly after them at the hotel reception, sadly, had to be turned away from the Bournemouth branch.

Manford went on to add that the hotel manager did apologise for the situation, but as he notes in the clips, the worry is that it could cause even bigger dilemmas if it were a wedding, someone with kids, “or a million different situations that you could have been in which are much more serious than [his].”

Essentially, the duo were just lucky they turned up when they did and said as much.

Despite noting that he’d heard of airlines opting for similar policies in the past, he confessed he’d never come across such a rule in more than “25 years of touring” as a comic.

Echoing his frustration, surprise and concern, musician Georgina Jackson said in the comments: “That is so bad! As a touring lone female musician who uses hotels a lot, what are we expected to do? But the fact is… they don’t really care…

“Thanks for highlighting it, as they might actually start caring when the bookings drop off!
And, I imagine the hotel/town was busy with your audience!! How blinking ironic!!”

The hotel group has since asked the Salfordian funny man to take the very public complaints down, but Manford has refused despite them requesting quite “politely”, insisting that he believes more people need to know about obscure and largely unknown rules like these.

You can see the most recent and final statement on the whole Jason Manford-Village Hotel situation in full down below.

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — University of Salford (via Flickr)/Jason Manford (screenshot via Facebook)

TV & Showbiz

New immersive Race Across the World Experience comes to Manchester this summer

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

Hit BBC TV show Race Across the World is launching an interactive experience in Manchester this summer, inspired by the series.

After five original series and two celebrity spin-offs, it was only a matter of time before the huge TV show materialised into ‘Race Across the World: The Experience’.

Just like the real programme, you will be sent on a mission across the heart of the city centre where you will have to complete tasks and reach various checkpoints to be crowned champion.

The missions will see players visiting Manchester hotspots, lesser known locations, renowned pubs, and distinctive landmarks across three hours.

Teams will rely on our trusty Bee Network as they take a trip on our vibrant yellow trams and buses to get around the city as they make their way to each puzzle and activity.

At each puzzle destination, participants will complete a challenge to guide them to their next location, all of which is pre-planned and spread across a five kilometre city-wide voyage.

For Mancs and anyone further afield, ‘Race Across the World: The Experience’ offers a whole new way to explore Manchester and gives you the chance to see some of the city’s best hidden gems, even if you are on a time limit.

This sounds like a great idea for friends and family alike, and based off the amount of times we’ve had to sprint down to Platform 14 at Manchester Piccadilly, I think us Mancs were born for this challenge.

In true Race Across the World style, the team who manages to finish not just with the fastest time but with the most budget remaining too, will be the ultimate victor.

Cast of BBC's Race Across the World / Credit: BBC / Studio Lambert
Cast of BBC’s Race Across the World / Credit: BBC / Studio Lambert

Tom Rymer, Founder of CityDays, said: “Following an outstanding debut month in London that has thrilled fans of the show, both old and new, we are bringing the Race Across The World Experience to Manchester.

“New puzzles, new characters, new decisions and new discoveries, all coming soon over three new thrilling legs. Manchester, are you ready for your race?”

Read more:

A launch date for ‘Race Across the World: The Experience’ is yet to be released but eager entrants can sign up to the official waitlist and find out even more information HERE.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Image – BBC / Studio Lambert

Thumbnail – @richardstorey_photography (via Instagram)

More TV & Showbiz

Affiliate

Diana Ross at Co-op Live, Manchester – tickets, times, setlist and more for UK tour

Jay Slater's mum has issued an update through a GoFundMe. Credit: GoFundMe

News

Channel 4 to air exclusive new documentary about the disappearance and death of Lancashire teen Jay Slater

Addison Rae Manchester gig tickets 2025

Audio

TikTok star turned pop star Addison Rae announces gig in Manchester

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches