The highly-anticipated crime thriller Viewpoint – which was shot in Manchester – is finally set to air next week.
Based on idea by Fleabag director Harry Bradbeer, Viewpoint began filming in Northern Quarter in August last year – becoming the first ITV drama to start shooting since the industry went into lockdown.
Production was temporarily paused following a COVID outbreak on set, but recommenced in September – with images posted on social media showing cranes and cameras occupying High Street.
The five-part series stars Noel Clarke (Kidulthood) in the lead role as a detective observing the home of a missing primary school teacher as part of an investigation into a tight-knit Manchester community.
Alexandra Roach (Black Mirror) plays single mum Zoe Sterling, with Fehinti Balogun (I May Destroy You), Catherine Tyldesley (Coronation Street) and Bronagh Waugh (The Fall) also co-starring.
ADVERTISEMENT
Clarke posted a teaser trailer for the series on his official Twitter page back in March.
Executive Producer Lucy Bedford called the series “a compelling, tense, claustrophobic thriller that turns the spotlight on the observer rather than the observed.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Head of ITV Drama, Polly Hill, said the crime series felt “new and fresh”, whilst also having “a touch of Rear Window” – the classic Alfred Hitchcock mystery thriller with a voyeur at its centre.
Viewpoint will air over five consecutive nights, from April 26 until April 30 on ITV.
TV & Showbiz
Kate Scott praised for impassioned speech following more racism in Champions League
Danny Jones
Football pundit and sports presenter Kate Scott has been met with plenty of praise for her ‘expert’ handling of the fallout following more racism in the Champions League this week, delivering an emotional and impassioned speech about discrimination live on TV.
The Manchester-born broadcaster, formerly Kate Abdo, was serving as the host on her usual CBS Sports panel on Tuesday, 17 February, when the story of the playoff game between Benfica and Real Madrid – which included a worldie from Vinicius Jr. – was overshadowed by more allegations of racial abuse.
In case you missed it, Argentine player Gianluca Prestianni was accused of making racist remarks by both Vini Jr and Kylian Mbappe, but supposedly covered his mouth so as not to be caught on camera; the match was then stopped for more than 11 minutes.
Speaking in the aftermath amid the following European fixtures the next day, the Withington-schooled journalist and University of Salford graduate delivered an eloquent reaction to the controversy with peak professionalism.
Absolutely pitch perfect, and all those involved in preparing the statement should be applauded.
While Scott herself recognised that it’s a shame we even have to keep talking about issues like these rather than the sheer simplistic beauty of, well, ‘the beautiful game’, her response is an example of the job being done at arguably its very best: factual, ethical, moving and inspiring.
As you can see, Scott goes on to say, “This isn’t Real Madrid versus Benfica – it is right versus wrong. Vini Junior and Kylian Mbappe said that there was repeated racial abuse.
“Gianluca Prestiani said they misheard, but he covered his mouth to hide what he said from the cameras, and hopefully, we can all agree that if what you are saying on a football pitch is shameful enough to have to hide it from the public, then you’re wrong.”
The Portuguese club, which ultimately lost 1-0 in their first leg at home on the night, have released a statement reaffirming their commitment to “equality, respect, and inclusion” but reiterates that they believe Prestiani and feel he is now the subject of a “defamation campaign”.
Conversely, in a definitive and emphatic closing message, she signs off by adding the following: “The racial diversity on a football pitch in the Champions League is the representation of the global love for this game and the global belonging in this game. This is the very spirit of football.
“And if you don’t agree, then respectfully, you are the one who doesn’t belong.”
This is what the Athletic is supposed to be. Telling important stories & giving in depth analysis. I hope this signals that it will be its focus moving forward.
From CBS ‘Golazo’ show being applauded for tackling the subject head-on, to Cross herself being labelled as everything from “a role model” and “a benchmark” to “the best on the planet” in the outpouring of reactions on social media, it’s fair to say they absolutely nailed it.
Sadly, this is one of many recent examples of prejudice being shared publicly across various UEFA tournaments and beyond in recent years, but the only way we can truly help anti-hate initiatives is by continuing to call them out.
New ‘warm and funny’ animated children’s show set in Manchester airs on CBeebies
Emily Sergeant
A brand new animated children’s sitcom that’s set in modern-day Manchester has now started airing on CBeebies.
Rafi the Wishing Wizard follows seven-year-old Rafi Martin, a determined young wizard learning to use her very own wishing wand, but there’s one twist – she can only make one wish a day, and it always runs out, usually when she least expects it.
Set in present-day Manchester, the magical series follows Rafi as she encounters everyday situations with a magical twist.
From wishing for rocket shoes on the way to school, and wishing you were mermaids in the swimming pool, to wishing her bed could fly, and for bigger hands to save more goals in football, the adorable new show takes life’s ordinary moments and turns them into something extraordinary.
Oh, but that’s not without a heap of magical chaos along the way.
With the help of her two dads, Jake (Daddy) and Dash (Dad), her best friends Ruby and Finn, and her grumpy pet cat Deborah, Rafi begins to realise that the real magic in life isn’t the wish, it’s her family, friends, and community.
According to the BBC, at its core, Rafi the Wishing Wizard is a classic family sitcom driven by ‘magic, surprise, and plenty of heart’.
Rafi the Wishing Wizard is a new animated children’s TV series set in Manchester / Credit: CBeebies
Another thing that makes Rafi different, according to the show’s creators, is that she’s just a normal kid in Manchester… but one who just happens to be a wishing wizard.
“It’s that mix of the ordinary and the extraordinary that gives the show its spark,” the BBC said in a statement.
All 26 episodes of Rafi the Wishing Wizard are now available to stream on BBC iPlayer, or watch on CBeebies – with each episode only being seven-minutes long, making it ideal for younger attention spans and easier to spot all of the Manchester landmarks.
Executive Producer Tom Cousins says setting the show in Manchester was a ‘deliberate choice’.
“It’s a city that’s close to my heart, but it also gives makes the world feel specific and familiar to UK audiences.”
Beth Gardiner, who is the Commissioning Editor for CBeebies, added: “We are very proud that this series is set in Manchester and know that it will resonate with children and families across the country. This series celebrates the warmth of family and friends and shines a light on our audiences’ wishes and the magic of everyday moments.”
The Manc -
21st April 2021 
