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TV & Showbiz

Keith Lemon comic Leigh Francis is going on tour for the first time – how to get tickets

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Sophie Smith - 22nd June 2023

Comedian Leigh Francis, the creator of characters including Keith Lemon and Avid Merrion, is heading on his first-ever live tour.

Leigh Francis: My First Time will be coming to stages across the UK next year, including a night at The Lowry in Salford.

The 18 date tour will see plenty of familiar characters brought to life from over the years, including Keith Lemon, Bear and Avid Merrion to ‘David Dickinson’, ‘Ant and Dec’ and Myrtle.

Naturally, Francis will be finishing the show where it all began, in his home city of Leeds, The Hoot reports.

The BAFTA award-winning comedian says: “Hey, really exciting news! Well exciting for me! I hope it’s exciting for you! Or at least provokes some sort of interest! I mean, just look how many exclamation marks there is in this quote! It’s definitely news with exciting intent!

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“So what is this exciting news? I’m doing my first ever tour! Never done one before. It’s gonna have masks in it! The Bear, Avid Merrion, Amanda Holden’s Gran, not her actual gran but me playing her. I’ll also be playing Keith Lemon, I look just like him!

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A post shared by Leeds Grand Theatre (@grandtheatrels1)

“It’s me doing all the characters I do that hopefully have the intent to provoke hilarity! So many exclamation marks, and the word ‘intent’ and ‘provoke’ twice! I’m excited!

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“Come see ME being other people LIVE for the first time! It’ll be your first time and my first time! Hence the title of the tour MY FIRST TIME! (There’s another exclamation mark) how exciting!”

Leigh Francis 2024 tour dates

Wednesday 6 March 2024 – Forum, Bath
Thursday 7 March 2024 – G Live, Guildford
Friday 8 March 2024 – Pavilion Theatre, Bouremouth
Saturday 9 March 2024 – Palladium, London
Thursday 14 March 2024 – Corn Exchange, Cambridge
Friday 15 March 2024 – City Hall, Sheffield
Saturday 16 March 2024 – Victoria Theatre, Halifax
Sunday 17 March 2024 – Lowry, Salford
Wednesday 20 March 2024 – Barbican, York
Thursday 21 March 2024 – Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow
Friday 22 March 2024 – City Hall, Hull
Saturday 23 March 2024 – St George’s Hall, Bradford
Sunday 24 March 2024 – Opera House, Buxton
Thursday 28 March 2024 – Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham
Satuday 30 March 2024 – Philharmonic, Liverpool
Sunday 31 March 2024 – Symphony Hall, Birmingham
Saturday 6 April 2023 – Grand Theatre, Leeds

poster with tour dates on.

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Tickets for Leigh Francis will go on sale on Friday 23 June 2023 on Ticketmaster and Gigs and Tours.

Feature Image – Supplied

TV & Showbiz

Ian Wright raves about Chorlton takeaway Jerk Junction

Daisy Jackson Ian Wright raves about Chorlton takeaway Jerk Junction

Ian Wright raves about Chorlton takeaway Jerk Junction

Ian Wright has publicly raved about a Greater Manchester takeaway, saying it’s the ‘only reason’ he comes to the city.

The TV personality and football great took to Instagram yesterday to share his short but sweet review of Jerk Junction.

It’s a beloved takeaway and restaurant that has a few sites across Greater Manchester and tonnes of loyal followers – including more than a few famous faces.

And now Ian Wright has joined the legions of fans celebrating Jerk Junction, a Caribbean spot famed for its jerk chicken and curried meats.

On his Instagram page yesterday, Wrighty shared a video of himself tucking into a huge helping of curry and rice, with fried dumplings on the side.

In it, he gives the camera a big thumbs up before saying: “It’s the only reason I come to Manchester really.”

Jerk Junction has also shared a photo of them delivering the food to Ian, writing: “Special delivery to everyones favourite Uncle, The Legend himself Mr @wrightyofficial.”

Ian Wright raving about Jerk Junction on Instagram. Credit: Instagram, @wrightyofficial

Ian Wright with Jerk Junction. Credit: Instagram, @jerkjunction — Ian Wright raving about Jerk Junction on Instagram. Credit: Instagram, @wrightyofficial

Ian Wright has then replied: “Too much food! But it was amazing!! Thank you so much.”

The takeaway’s menu is filled with dishes like Jerk chicken, curried goat, and vegetarian options like Ital stew, all served with rice and peas, and prepared with traditional spices and ingredients.

They have sites in Chorlton, MediaCity, and Wilmslow, with another spot soon to open at the Trafford Centre.

Fans were devastated last year when a fire tore through Jerk Junction’s original Chorlton site.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

TV & Showbiz

The UK’s much-loved ‘day rave’ with Vicky and Jon McClure returns to Manchester for New Year’s Eve

One of the UK’s most popular new club events and pioneering ‘day rave’ is returning to Manchester this New Year’s, featuring founders Jon and Vicky McClure, as well as some very special guests.

The Line of Duty star and Reverend and the Makers frontman started the parent-friendly event back in January of this year as an alternative day out for those looking to have a party and still manage an early bedtime. Since then it’s gone on to become a real phenomenon and is only getting bigger.

With Vicky swapping UK dramas and crime thrillers for the discotheque and ‘Big Jon’ switching lanes from his usual rock, indie and alternative roots to favour timeless dance tracks to still get people up on their feet, Day Fever has gone down a storm all over the country.

With their first year coming towards a close, they now look set for arguably their biggest day rave to date as Day Fever will be hosting a special New Year’s Eve for their final hurrah of 2024 right here in Manchester city centre – and no, you don’t need to be able to stay up until midnight.

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A post shared by Day Fever (@dayfeveruk)

The two McClures – unrelated, by the way, they just share a name and a fantastic taste in music – and the rest of their crew will be partying between 3-8pm for a much more tame and friendlier night (day) out, commanding the decks alongside some other special guests.

Not only does this alternative way to party promise a more responsible curfew, meaning clubbers don’t have to worry about missing the last train home but it’s also geared towards over 30s whilst still being super inclusive.

This day-time clubbing event is designed to reminisce on the old days and all those dance-filled memories of evenings spent out on the tiles, just minus the late-night finish – and hopefully the hangover but that’s down to you really, isn’t it?

In their words: ‘There’s no dress code, no egos—just pure positivity’; there’s nothing we love to hear more than the sweet relief of not having to get dolled up for a big night when we just can’t be bothered.

With New Century Hall hosting the Day Fever once again for their first-ever NYE party here in Manchester, along with two other events being held simultaneously in Edinburgh and Birmingham, you can get all your partying done way with plenty of time to get cosy in bed before the calendar turns over.

Just in time to watch Jools Holland’s famous Annual Hootenanny, as they put it.

Jon McClure and Vicky’s co-star, Martin Compston

Jon McClure and Vicky’s co-star, Martin Compston

This is guaranteed to be an evening to remember for everyone in attendance, especially when you’re joined by stars of stage and screen who will be powering you through with some proper dance bangers as they have done all year long.

The New Year’s Eve party isn’t just the last dance of the year either, it’s also effectively the prequel to next year’s raft of shows as Day Fever has already announced more than a dozen big dates in January and February.

This batch of 2025 dates sees the gang taking on lots of other cities, including North West neighbours Liverpool, Sheffield, Leeds and Hull over in Yorkshire, two Newcastle shows and plenty more.

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So, if you’re feeling those clubbing blues, that pesky seasonal affective disorder or just still not booked up for NYE 2024, why not make the most of this day-time opportunity?

Tickets for both the New Year’s Eve and the rest of their 2025 events are available on the official Day Fever website HERE.

Oh yeah, and help get Rev to Christmas number one – it’s for a good cause and they deserve it!

OK HERE WE GO https://t.co/xierN1ulh2

I’ve always wanted to do the Jon Lewis ad but no one asked me so I kinda made my own 3 minute one in Sheffield

More importantly it’s to raise awareness and money for @samaritanscharity who are there for people 365 days a year .

Nobody… pic.twitter.com/niUwmBB3d4
— Reverend&TheMakers (@Reverend_Makers) November 15, 2024

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Featured Images — Publicity Picture via Supplied