Professor Brian Cox was turned away from a hotel last night because the hotel believed he was already checked-in – except it was the other very famous Brian Cox.
The Oldham-born physicist and the Succession actor were both booked into the same hotel ahead of an appearance on BBC Breakfast.
But when they went to check in, the staff on the check-in desk were completely flummoxed by the matching names.
And now I’m trying to work out how to differentiate the two moving forward. We’ll call them Prof Brian and Actor Brian.
The two Brians appeared on BBC Breakfast together today to share the details of the check-in catastrophe with presenter Charlie Stayt.
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Prof Brian said he tried to whip out his phone after he was denied entry to show that there were indeed two celebrity guests with identical names – but was told by the staff member ‘I know neither of you, I don’t watch television’.
Chaos as both Brians stay in the same hotel. Credit: BBC Breakfast
Actor Brian said: “Last night was very confusing because Brian arrived at the hotel and said that ‘there are two Brian Coxes, so you’ve got two rooms’.
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“And he said ‘No no, there’s only one. I think there might be another Brian Cox’ and the hotel said to Brian ‘We can’t have two Brian Coxes’.”
Prof Brian added, much to Charlie Stayt’s delight: “They wouldn’t check me in!
“I had to change my name! They couldn’t do it on the computer system. They didn’t believe me.
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“And I got a picture out on my phone and said this Brian Cox, he’ll be coming later, and there’s this one, and he said ‘I know neither of you, I don’t watch television’.”
BBC Breakfast booked both Brian Coxes into the same hotel, causing utter confusion. Absolutely amazing. pic.twitter.com/8U1XT5zBp0
TV critic Scott Bryan (oh god, another Bryan) shared the clip on Twitter, writing: “BBC Breakfast booked both Brian Coxes into the same hotel, causing utter confusion. Absolutely amazing” – a clip that’s now been viewed more than 200,000 times.
In the replies, one person wrote: “So now we know the official definition of computer says no. When two people with the same name but into a hotel at the same time…”
Another tweeted: “Fun fact of the day: The collective noun for a group of Brian Cox’s is called a Succession of Brian Cox’s. I’ll see my self out…”
And then came this idea, which sounds ace: “TV SERIES IDEA. ‘The Trip’ but with these two.
“Brian Cox: Hello Brian, would you join me in exploring the enigma of time – a phenomenon we take for granted, but which is one of the biggest mysteries in the universe?
“Brian Cox: F**K OFF!!”
Featured image: BBC Breakfast
TV & Showbiz
Beloved Manc butty shop Bada Bing set for a sensational return to the city centre
Danny Jones
Sandwich lovers rejoice because one of the finest butty shops to ever grace Manchester is returning: that’s right, Bada Bing is bada-back!
The Sopranos-inspired deli and sandwich shop that took its name from one of the central locations featured in the iconic US drama (yes, the strip club), was a huge success when it first opened in Manchester a few short years ago, so it was a huge blow when it closed in February 2022.
Starting out by serving sandwiches out of a window at The B Lounge pub on Paton Street near Piccadilly, before moving to a small kitchen on Radium Street and eventually setting up their stall inside Ancoats General Store, they would regularly have lines around the block every lunchtime.
These Italian-American sarnies were so popular you’d often struggle to get your claws on one – and believe us, they really are a two-handed task – as they’d sell out on what felt like most days. But now, whether you were a regular or someone who missed out, there is hope once again:
Announcing their sensational return to a new site over in the Northern Quarter, which will now mark the fourth premises they’ve popped up at, Bada Bing is back with a bang and, as you can, they dropped the news with one of the best reveal videos we’ve ever seen.
If you know, you know…
Set to take over 125 Oldham Street, owners Sam Gormally and Meg Lingenfelter haven’t yet graced us with an opening date but the new unit should hopefully be open sooner rather than later.
The duo, who previously worked at fellow NQ favourite Another Heart to Feed, came up with the concept during lockdown and it didn’t take long for the idea to take off, nor for them to earn their spot amongst the very best sandwich places in Manchester.
Seriously, these things were so big and unwieldy (in the best way possible) that they even used to come with eating instructions: both hands and the trademark Tony Soprano hunch recommended, though the slightly stained wife-beater, boxer shorts and open dressing gown look is optional.
From slices of provolone cheese, all the thinly sliced Italian meats you could think of and the closest thing to actual ‘gabagool‘ as you’ll find in Greater Manchester, the menu was fitting of being served up to the iconic characters that once sat outside Satriale’s and a big approving grin from the man himself.
Simply put, we cannot wait and we will certainly keep you posted when we find out exactly when Bada Bing confirms their official reopening date.
Will Mellor’s new BBC documentary about real-life Post Office scandal victims airs tonight
Emily Sergeant
A new BBC documentary about real-life victims from the Post Office scandal fronted by Will Mellor is hitting TV screens tonight.
As the country finally starts to wake up to the full scale of the Post Office scandal – which involved the British postal service pursuing thousands of innocent subpostmasters for apparent financial shortfalls caused by faults in an accounting software system between 1999 and 2015 – actor Will Mellor is on a mission to find out what happened to the real-life sub-postmasters in this new BBC documentary.
The Stockport-born actor famously played the part of Lee Castleton in the ITV drama, Mr Bates vs the Post Office, and says he feels a “real affinity” will the families he spoke to for the programme.
For the new documentary and accompanying five-part BBC Sounds podcast series – which is titled Surviving the Post Office – Will actually speaks to Mr Castleton himself, as well as four other affected people and their families whose lives have been “torn apart”.
Will Mellor has fronted a new BBC documentary about real-life Post Office scandal victims / Credit: ITV
Surviving the Post Office ventures to all four corners of England, including East Yorkshire, County Durham, Lincolnshire, West Sussex, and Cornwall, as Will discovers that many of the sub-postmasters want to “take back control of their lives”.
According to the BBC, for some facing the past, that proves to be a “troubling experience”, while for others, it ends up being a “liberating” step forwards.
As well as exploring the financial losses for many, including the people featured in the documentary and podcast series, Will also gets to find out how they are coping with their emotions, trying to move on from the whole ordeal, and how the victims are finding support in unexpected ways.
📢 Actor Will Mellor meets the real-life victims of the Post Office scandal in a brand new documentary from BBC Local
Surviving The Post Office is coming to @BBCOne and @BBCiPlayer tonight at 8.30pm. The podcast series is on @BBCSounds now
“I feel a real affinity with these families, so it was a privilege to hear their stories for this documentary and podcast,” Will said ahead of the documentary airing on BBC One.
“What shocked me the most after meeting so many sub-postmasters is just how far the impact and trauma has spread – the effect it’s had on people’s health, their children, and their whole communities has been massive.”