TV & Showbiz

ITV to air documentary on Manchester Arena attack

The two-part programme will air five years after the attack took place.

The Manc The Manc - 18th May 2021

ITV has announced a two-part documentary on the Manchester Arena attack will air next spring.

The programme is set to broadcast five years on from the 2017 suicide bombing – in which 22 people were killed and more than 1,000 were injured at an Ariana Grande gig.

The documentary will explore the events leading up to, and the aftermath of, the devastating incident – using insights gleaned from the Manchester Arena Public Inquiry which has been ongoing since September 2020.

The programme will also feature testimonies of those who were there on the night.

Award-winning independent production company Label1 (Hospital; School) is putting the documentary together, with BAFTA nominee Marcus Plowright (Football, Prince William and Mental Health; The Murder of Jill Dando; In Cold Blood; Generation Gifted) directing.

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Tom Giles, Controller, Current Affairs at ITV, said: “As we approach the fifth anniversary of the devastating attack at the Manchester Arena, we’re pleased to be working with Label 1 on this series, which aims to provide fresh insight into what happened and ask what lessons can be learned.”

Creative Director, Label1, Simon Dickson, added: “The programmes will sensitively piece together the timeline leading up to the bombing and its aftermath, as well as exploring the evidence that has been presented to the Public Inquiry”.

Featured image: David Dixon / Geograph

TV & Showbiz

Amazon Prime Video release trailer for Man United’s treble documentary, ’99’

Danny Jones Danny Jones Trailer for Amazon's Man United Treble documentary

Just a fortnight on from Manchester City releasing their treble documentary on Netflix, Manchester United have issued a timely reminder that they did it first by releasing a trailer for their own on Amazon Prime Video.

Oh, we’re about to enjoy some serious online debate and not at all petty social media spats over the next few days. Play nice, everyone…

Simply entitled 99, the new documentary series from fellow streaming giants Amazon will cover Man United‘s hallowed 1998/99 season, where they became the first-ever English club in history to win a treble and went down as one of the greatest teams in football history.

Considered the holy trinity of trophies in Europe – winning the first division in your country, the main domestic cup and the Champions League – the true ‘continental’ treble has only ever been completed by eight teams and the Red Devils are clearly looking to capitalise on the same media buzz as City.

The first trailer for Amazon’s upcoming documentary about Man United’s treble season?

While Man City are still well and truly basking in the glory of achieving the incredible footballing feat, with the possibility of defending all three titles still very much on the cards,

There have been multiple productions celebrating United’s lifting that same trio of trophies in the past, from The Treble season review film released in 1999 itself to the likes of The Impossible Dream released on its 20th anniversary in 2019 and others, but this latest is set to be the comprehensive look yet.

Showing “never-before-seen footage” and featuring the stories “told by those who were there – including David Beckham, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Peter Schmeichel, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and more. documentary” – it promises to serve as the “definitive documentary” of United’s treble season.

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Naturally, there’s already plenty of discussion rearing its head over which team was more impressive.

Next debate: who’s treble documentary is going to be better, City or United’s?

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Amazon has scheduled 99 for a 17 May release date, just over a month and a half on from City releasing Together: Treble Winners, not to mention dropping the trailer itself barely a fortnight after the fact.

Although many have been quick to point out that the docuseries omits any discussion of their ongoing FFP charges – with Paddy Power even spoofing it as a Netflix true crime drama – it has received largely positive reviews for its fly-on-the-wall look at one of the best teams in the world.

Set to be fittingly spread over three parts, 99 is also being co-created by three different parties: Ventureland, Gary Neville’s production company, Buzz16.2, and David Beckham’s Leigh-based production house, Studio 99.

The latter were obviously heavily involved in the recent Beckham Netflix series, so fans of that can expect similar vibes from Amazon’s documentary on United’s own treble season and the momentous year that was 1999.

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Featured Images — Amazon Prime Video

TV & Showbiz

Eurovision 2024 final to be screened live in cinemas across Greater Manchester

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

The grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest is to be screened live in cinemas across Greater Manchester next month.

Following the success of the first-ever live streams of Europe’s biggest party onto the big screen when it was held on British soil in Liverpool last year, cinemas up and down the UK are set to come together once again to celebrate 2024’s edition of the major night in the music calendar by hosting the ultimate viewing events.

The epic Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final on Saturday 11 May will be broadcast live on BBC One, and streamed into more than 100 cinemas nationwide – including several in Greater Manchester.

Hosted by CinemaLive, the live stream events will allow Eurovision fans to gather under one roof and be “united by music” to share in the unbeatable experience of celebrating the brightest and boldest music party of the year on the big screen.

Eurovision 2024 final to be screened live in cinemas across Greater Manchester / Credit: Cinema Live | Krists Luhaers (via Unsplash)

You may remember that Sweden is hosting Eurovision this year, following the Scandinavian country’s well-deserved victory at the 2023 contest with the song ‘Tattoo’ performed by Loreen.

But thanks to these live stream events, you won’t need to make the trip to Malmö to get in on the action, as you’ll just need to nip down to your nearest participating cinema instead.

Not only will the long-awaited final of the show be streamed live onto the big screen in 5.1 surround sound, but fans are invited to bring their Eurovision parties from the front room to the cinema instead, as organisers say fancy dress is “heavily encouraged” as are enthusiastic sing-alongs too.

Speaking ahead of the event next month, John Travers from distributors CinemaLive, said: “We’re delighted to be working with the BBC to bring Eurovision’s grand final live into cinemas across the UK for the second year in a row.

“We want audiences to enjoy themselves, so come along in groups, get your fancy dress on, and join together to enjoy this incredible occasion on the big screen”.

Tickets are now live and available to book at your local cinema here.

Read more:

Some of the participating Greater Manchester cinemas include Vue Manchester Printworks, Everymans in Manchester city centre and Altrincham, The Light in Stockport, and Cineworld in Didsbury, among others.

Featured Image – Nick Robinson (via BBC)

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